After withdrawing from the women’s gymnastics team final, the four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles explained during a press conference that she had to pull out of the final, in order to focus on her mental health.
After Biles’ vault performance, the athlete left the arena but later returned to cheer on her teammates as they took silver following the Russian Olympic Committees’ gold.
Prior to Biles pulling out from the event, she scored her lowest Olympic vault score, 13.766, which many suggested was the reason for her withdrawal. However, the star athlete explained during her press conference that she felt she was under immense pressure and needed to take some time off.
Biles explained: “After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on.”
“I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.
“We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.
“I don’t trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.
“We’re not just athletes. We’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.
“I didn’t want to go out and do something stupid and get hurt. I feel like a lot of athletes speaking up has really helped.
“It’s so big, it’s the Olympic Games. At the end of the day we don’t want to be carried out of there on a stretcher.”
Biles is the most successful gymnast of all time, having won four gold medals and a bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
To become the most decorated gymnast in history, the multi-awarded medalist needs four podium performances in Tokyo.
She has advanced to the finals of all five individual events and is unsure about competing in her next event on Thursday, in which she will seek to become the first woman to hold the Olympic all-around title since 1968.
Biles said of Thursday’s event: “We’re going to see about Thursday…We’re going to take it a day at a time and see what happens.”
Taking to her social media, Biles congratulated her teammates on their win, following her withdrawal.
so incredibly proud of this girl right here 🤍
thanks for always keeping gym light hearted and fun! love you! you’re amazing ms olympian 🤩 @mykaylaskinner pic.twitter.com/xSd3PAJCNn— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 25, 2021
Several people took to social media to offer their support after news broke about Biles withdrawal due to mental health.
! PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH !
— Alissa Violet (@AlissaViolet) July 27, 2021
Someone said it best. @Simone_Biles already won. She is a class act. Withdrew from team competion after vault… stayed and cheered on her teammates… got them chalk for their hands.. encouraged.. hugged them. She already won. Congrats on the silver medal! @TeamUSA @USAGym
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) July 27, 2021
Simone Biles, relating to gymnasts worldwide here: "They saw it a little bit in practice. Having a little bit of the twisties."
The twisties. The absolute worst.
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) July 27, 2021
Our thoughts and love go to Simone Biles at this time and wish her the best with all decisions she takes on keeping her mental health sacred.
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